LAS VEGAS -- Animal abuse is one step closer to becoming a felony. The
Nevada Senate passed a bill making animal abuse on the first offense
punishable by a year in jail. Currently, animal abuse is only a felony after
three misdemeanor violations. Animal rights advocates say this change is
long overdue.

Those advocates say there is a direct link between animal abuse and
violent crimes. So they say putting animal abusers behind bars after the
first offense could help lower the number of domestic violence and other
criminal cases.